Laws forcing faith schools to accept pupils from non-religious backgrounds were abruptly scrapped last night. Education Secretary Alan Johnson said Catholic and C of E schools had voluntarily agreed to take a quarter of students from non-Christian homes. But his department refused to say if a similar deal had been struck with Muslim or Jewish […]

Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall has hit out at the club’s recent managers for squandering more than £200million on sub-standard players. Hall, the club’s majority shareholder and president, believes a succession of poor buys by managers Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness have cost them since he stepped down in […]

Newcastle insist they have yet to receive a formal takeover bid amid speculation the Belgravia Group are stepping up plans to buy the club. Reports suggested the Jersey-based investment group are in negotiations with all Newcastle shareholders, with a Belgravia spokesman “hopeful” of a positive outcome. But the club issued a statement, saying: “The company […]